Briggate sees busiest week ever over Easter break

Leeds saw its busiest Easter for many years as shoppers flocked to the city centre following the opening of the new Trinity Leeds shopping centre.

The total footfall for Briggate over the Easter weekend was 900,000 – the highest it has ever been.

In fact the city centre as a whole has seen an increase in footfall over the March and early April period. Footfall at the St Johns Centre for March was up 17.9% compared to February 2013, and Kirkgate Market recorded a 7.2% increase in footfall between 21 March to 11 April, compared to the same time last year.

Leeds City Council measures the number of people visiting the city centre at eight locations across the city centre and visitor numbers have been constantly high since late March - the week leading up to the Easter Weekend was the busiest week ever recorded on Briggate.

The footfall cameras, which record automatically, 24 hours a day, also show an increase in the number of people in the city in the early evening, a trend which is expected to increase as the summer arrives.

Cllr Richard Lewis, executive member for development and the economy, said:

“It is fantastic to see so many people taking advantage of the excellent retail offer that we have here in Leeds.

“The opening of Trinity Leeds is driving increased footfall across the whole city centre, and not just the shopping centre itself.

“Leeds has plenty more to look forward to this year, with the opening of the Leeds Arena and work starting on the new Hammerson development.

David Laycock, Trinity Leeds centre director said:

“We're really pleased with the number of shoppers we've had in the opening weeks.

“We had over 1 million people through the doors within our first ten days and to know that we've helped achieve the largest ever footfall on Briggate since records began fills us with pride. We're looking forward to what the rest of 2013 has in store with the Leeds Arena opening along with our new food concept Trinity Kitchen opening later this autumn.”

John Bade, Centre Director of Victoria Quarter, said

“We saw a 3% year-on-year increase in footfall for the month of March, and we are expecting even stronger figures for April, factoring in the Easter period. With a new Beauty Week event in April, our third Summer Shopping Event in May, along with other initiatives we’re offering customers even more reasons to visit the city.